All Posts in "Day: June 19, 2023"

5000 Candidates Jostle For 2023/24 PTDF Scholarship

Over 5000 candidates applied for the 2023-2024 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Program.

Bolanle Kehinde-Abiola, Head, PTDF scholarship scheme, disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of the selection interview exercise for shortlisted candidates for the 2022/24 overseas postgraduate scholarship MSc and Ph.D. award.

She noted that the programme would last for one week, and successful candidates would be awarded scholarship for Universities in the United Kingdom, UK, Germany, France, China and Malaysia.

“We are kick starting the process for the award of scholarship for the 2023 overseas scheme.
We have over five thousand candidates we have shortlisted to partake in the exercise which is going on nation wide in the six geo political zones of the country.

“The first criteria is that you must be a Nigerian and for the masters scholarship you must be a student of any of the oil and gas fields like engineering, geology, computing, environmental sciences and management. You must have a minimal of 2.1 in any of these fields for you to qualify.

“The application windows opens at the end of the year and then candidates are called to apply PTDF is an agency of government that is charged for the capacity building of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

“The essence of the program is for Nigerians to take over the operations of the oil and gas industry and to give them the necessary skills that’s required to operate in the Nigeria oil and gas industry.

“We have the scholarship scheme running in the United kingdom,we also have what is called strategic partnership in France, Germany, Malaysia and China.The interview lasts for one week.

“The number of candidates the agency takes depends on the budget they have for the year.
In previous years,the agency takes about three MSA candidates for the United kingdom collaboration.The agency has two types of collaborations which are The United kingdom collaboration and The strategic partnership collaboration, which is the GFCM which is Germany,France,China and Malaysia where we also take three MSc candidates.

“Then for the PhD, we took two candidates for The United kingdom collaboration and two for the GFCM from over the state(per state)
We started virtual interviews post COVID because of the challenge of people moving from one place to another during the COVID era. Since then, it had come to stay and even this year,we will embark on virtual interviews for candidates who will not be physically able to attend the interview, and other candidates will be considered under alternative circumstances.

“For instance if a candidate is sick, or in abroad and is unable to the attend the interview in Nigeria it is a criteria for the virtual interview” she said.

According to her, the first criteria to qualify for the scholarship is that applicant must be a Nigerian and for the masters scholarship one must be a student of any of the oil and gas fields like engineering, geology, computing, environmental sciences and management, and had made a minimal of 2.1 in any of these fields.

She said that the number of candidates the agency takes depends on the budget they have for the year, stressing that in previous years, about three MSc candidates were taken for the United kingdom collaboration.

“This year we brought a new approach to it because as earlier said,we always strife for excellence in this program and to make sure the the program has integrity. We engaged external experts to review the shortlisting after the staff had already has already checked and submitted.

“We submitted that submittion to a group of experts to review that shortlisting to ensure that whoever is shortlisted is qualified to attend the interview and that level was done which is another level-the third level.
“Then the final level of the selection process is that after the interview,the best candidates will emerged and the award will be given to such candidates” she stated.

admin by — June 19, 2023 in Education 0
Vote-Buying: Adebutu Loses Bid To Nullify Abiodun’s Re-election

Mohammed Shosanya

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Monday struck out a reply filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu, on an alleged vote-buying against Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the March 18 election in the state.

The three- man panel led by Justice Hamidu Kunaza ruled on one of the preliminary applications during its pre-hearing sitting on Monday.

Dapo Abiodun,had through his lead Counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), in his reply to the main petition alleged voting buying against Adebutu and his party during the said election.

However,the petitioner’s counsel in the response in turn, also accused Abiodun and his party of also engaging in financial inducement for voters during the election.

A member of Abiodun’s legal team, Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) who argued the application before the tribunal said the petitioner had surreptitiously introduced vote-buying as a new issue and fact while responding to the second respondents’ reply.

According to him, introduction of new issue/fact in the reply was against paragraph 16(1) (a) of the First Schedule of Electoral Act.

Osipitan said some paragraphs in the petitioner’s reply were offensive and prayed the tribunal to strike it out for being incompetent.

Counsel to Adebutu, Goddy Uche (SAN) asked the tribunal to reject the second respondents’ application for lacking in merit, saying it was used as a delay tactic on the petition.

Uche said the second respondent in some paragraphs in his reply made allegation of financial inducement of voters by Adebutu during the March 18 governorship election, saying the petitioner merely responded to the opponent’ accusations as contained in the reply to the original petition.

He said the petitioner didn’t raise the issue of vote-buying in the petition ab initio.

In its unanimous ruling read by the Chairman, Justice Hamidu Kunaza, the petitioner’s reply dated May 22, 2023 was strucked out.

The tribunal held that the petitioner’s reply if allowed would constitute injustice as the second respondent doesn’t have opportunity to respond to the petitioner’s reply.

The panel held that a reply should not be a medium to raise new issue which was not raised in the petition.

“The petitioner’s reply dated May 22, 2023 is hereby struck out,” the tribunal held.

The Chairman emphasised that the ruling didn’t affect the merit of the petition as petition itself would be determined during the hearing stage which would soon commence.

admin by — June 19, 2023 in Politics 0
Gunmen Kill INEC Staff, Youth Leader’s Dad In Ebonyi

Tunde Sholanke

Gunmen have killed two persons and abducted another in a fresh attack at Ishiagu community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Sunday.

One of the victims, Mr Okafor who is the father to the National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Mazi Damian Okafor, was said to have been butchered at his farm by the gunmen, while fleeing the area after carrying out attacks.

The second victim, identified as Emmanuel Igwe, is as Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and an Assistant Electoral Officer in Afikpo North INEC LGA office.

He was shot death by the gunmen on the head along Ishiagu/Mpu road on his way back from Abia State while his wife who was riding with him was abducted.

The National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Mazi Damian Okafor, described the incident as the biggest shock of his life.

He explained that his father was in his farm when the fleeing herdsmen ran into him and used cutlasses to cut him into pieces.

He noted that gunmen attacks had become a regular occurrence in the area and called relevant authorities for a quick intervention.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya,confirmed the incident.

She said: “Two persons were reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
One was shot in the head through his car windscreen and the other murdered in his farm with his throat cut.”

admin by — June 19, 2023 in Crime/Metro 0
Dangote Refinery Increases NEPZA’s Investment Profile To US$35bn

Mohammed Shosanya

Following the recent commissioning of the Dangote Refinery, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority,NEPZA now has a total of 52 Free Trade Zones under its supervision with a total of an estimated 35 billion US dollars combined investment profile.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA),disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

Adesugba further identified
infrastructural deficit and imposition of levies and taxes within the Free Zones by other agencies of government as some of the challenges confronting NEPZA.

According to him, “Basic infrastructure within zones is critical for investors to conduct effective operations so as to yield return on their investments within a reasonable time frame.

“Previously, inadequate funding for provision of basic amenities such as power, water, roads (internal and external), and fast internet service within zones have plagued the scheme to date.

“In line with my vision of establishing “plug and play” technologically driven zones, this is being addressed through cordial engagements with the FMITI, Federal Ministry of Finance, and Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and has resulted in an increase of N20 billion in capital allocation from N1.5 billion to N21.5 billion for NEPZA.

“This engagement also attracted N35.4bn in budgetary allocation for the upgrade of power generation and supply to Kano Free Trade Zones (KFTZ) and Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ).

He said an additional N18.1bn approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was also received for development of infrastructure within zones,including the access road infrastructure for the proposed MSEZ.”

He added that the Free Zone Scheme has shown that it is the easiest way of creating jobs for Nigerians, as over 170,000 people are currently employed in the Free Zones.

He further revealed that 541 enterprises or factories have been established within the Free Zones, adding that the Authority was targeting the establishment of 10,000 factories within the Free Zones.

admin by — June 19, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
Frank Mba: 10 Facts You Need To Know About The New DIG

 

Following Friday, 16 June 2023, the Police Serve Commission’s approval of the appointment of a former 3-time Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, psc, mni, LLB (Hons), BL, LLM (Dundee), FCPA, FCECFI, fnipr, mipra as Deputy Inspector- General of Police, DIG, many have hailed the promotion as a welcome development.

A consummate, refined and vastly experienced cop with 31 years in service of the Nigeria Police Force, Mba has transversed different departments of the force in strategic areas of investigations, operations, administration and public relations/communications. Commenting on the promotion, the spokesman of the Police Service Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, explained that Mba is the most senior police officer from the South-East zone of the country.

According to Ani, “DIG Mba will represent the South-East zone in the Police Executive Management Committee and replace the retired DIG John Amadi who before his retirement represented the zone”. Currently, Mba has been deployed to head the Department of Research and Planning of the force.

Here are 10 things you need to know about the new Deputy Inspector General of Police in order to appreciate his sterling qualities.

1. Mba was born in Lagos State 51 years ago and joined the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in 1992 as a cadet officer. He was trained at the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, where he finished as the best graduating cadet. Thereafter, he commenced his policing career, rising through the ranks to his present status as a Deputy Inspector General of Police.

2. He spent 7 years as an Inspector before he was promoted in 1999 to an ASP and to a DSP in 2003.Through commitment and hardwork, MBA got promotion to an SP in 2008 after 5 years and to CSP in 2012.He was promoted to an ACP in 2014 and later to a DCP in 2018.Mba rose to the rank of a CP in December 2020.Three years after in March 2023, he was decorated as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

3. He is an alumnus of the University of Lagos, Akoka, where he obtained his LLB (Law) Degree. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Abuja and won the Justice Kayode Eso’s award for Best Student in Professional Ethics. He was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002. He equally attended the University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom in 2005 for his Master’s degree in Law (LLM), graduating with Distinction. DIG Mba is also an alumnus of the prestigious FBI National Academy, Quantico – USA.

4. In addition, he holds a Certificate in National and International Security from Harvard University, USA. He is a Member of the National Institute (mni), having successfully completed the Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru – Jos in 2022. He also attended the Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme at the Oxford Business School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

5. A passionate and versatile officer, he has worked in many challenging Police Units and Departments in Nigeria, cutting across Investigations, Operations, Administration and Public Relations. These include the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Border Patrol Force, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

6. A three-time National Spokesman of the NPF and a recipient of the UN Medal, he was a member of the Nigeria Police Contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia between 2006 and 2007.

7. Mba had served as the Area Commander in charge of Area ‘J’ Ajah and Area ‘E’ Festac Town, all in Lagos State. He was also an Assistant Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Panti-Yaba, Lagos. He equally served at different times and in different capacities at Zone XI Police Headquarters, Oshogbo; State CID, Umuahia; Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi – Lagos; Force CID, Annex, Kaduna; amongst others.

8. DIG Frank has attended some of the finest Law Enforcement trainings, within and outside Nigeria. These include: Countering Violent Extremism and Police Leadership Course at the International Law Enforcement Academy, Roswell, New Mexico, USA (2018); Strategic Leadership and Command Course, Police Staff College, Jos (2017); Crisis and Disaster Management Course, Galilee International Management Institute, Israel (2013); Managing the Media in Crisis Situations, School of Media and Communications, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos (2013); International Visitors Leadership Program on International Crime Issues, Washington DC (2010); General Criminal Investigation Course at the International Law Enforcement Academy, Botswana (2009); Middle Management Course on Global Peace Operations in Vicenza, Italy (2008); amongst others.

9. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Fellow, Chattered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria (CILGPAN); Fellow, Chattered Examiners of Criminology and Forensic Investigation Inc., USA (FCECFI); Member, International Institute of Certified Forensic Investigation Professionals, USA (CFIP); Member, FBI National Academy Associates Inc. (FBINAA); Member, The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS); amongst others.

10. Before his appointment as the DIG in charge of Research and Planning, he served as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Lagos Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi – Lagos.

admin by — June 19, 2023 in News 0